Penn State football kicks off its 2023 season with a 7:30 p.m. matchup against West Virginia on Sept. 2, and fans will find plenty of additions to the game day experience this year.
From a new family-friendly entrance to pregame festivities for kids and adults to a variety of new food vendors to the Legacy Plaza, here’s what’s in store, according to the Penn State Athletic Department.
Family Friendly Gates
Families with children 12 and younger can expedite entry to Beaver Stadium at either Gate F or the ADA Gate, which will open two and a half hours prior to kickoff. Clear diaper or tote bags 12″ x 6″ x 12″ or smaller are permitted.
Lap Ticket Policy for Children Under 2
While Penn State has always required anyone, regardless of age, to have a ticket for entry to Beaver Stadium, this year fans may purchase may purchase a lap ticket at for $10 for children under 2. Those tickets can be purchased when box offices open on game day at Gate E or Gate B. The child must sit on a parent’s or guardian’s lap and cannot occupy a separate seat.
Kids Zone and Happy Valley Alley
A family-friendly entertainment experience comes to the area near Gate D this season. Happy Valley Alley will have high top tables and televisions, special concessions, entertainment and a Kids Zone with games, a turf field and other activities. Happy Valley Alley and Kids Zone will open two hours prior to kickoff.
Sponsor New Holland also has moved its farm-to-stadium concession stand to the Gate D area.
Legacy Plaza
Located on Curtin Road next to the south end zone tunnel, the new Legacy Plaza honoring Penn State football history is slated to open in time for the start of the season. Additions will be made throughout the season, including plaques from every season and include each team’s schedule, results and team captains. Fans can also order personalized pavers to be part of the plaza. See pennstatelegacyplaza.com for details.
Stadium Food Options
Beaver Stadium will have nine new concessions at 13 locations, including local vendors like We Are Inn, Doan’s Bones, Scott’s Roasting and Adam and Nancy’s Paninis, as well as Philly’s Chickie and Pete’s, South Jersey’s Wing Kitchen and Pittsburgh’s Caliente Pizza.
- Caliente Pizza – two locations – east and northwest concourse
- Wing Kitchen – two locations – west and northeast concourse
- Chickie and Pete’s – two locations – west and northeast concourse
- We Are Inn – two locations – south and northwest concourse
- Doan’s Bones – southeast concourse
- Adam and Nancy’s Paninis – northeast concourse
- Scott’s Roasting – north concourse
- Philly Pretzel – southwest concourse
- Gluten Free Stand – southwest concourse
Fan Assistance Shuttle
A shuttle program will be available for fans needing mobility assistance from the parking lots to the stadium and back after the game. The service begins two hours before kickoff and resumes at the beginning of the fourth quarter for return trips, ending one hour after the game’s conclusion. See the map of shuttle locations here.
Mobile Locker Storage
Penn State is partnering with the Mobile Locker Company to give fans a place to store personal belongings on game days. When lots open, fans can rent out a locker in one of the locker trucks located at Gate A of the Bryce Jordan Center and at the North Transit Center on Park Avenue. The locker trucks will depart one hour after the game ends.
New In-Game Announcers and Crowd Stats Counter
As previously reported, Beaver Stadium will have two new public address announcers this year. Rodney Martin will take over play-by-play while Joe Putnam will handle pregame, halftime and media timeout announcements.
State College-based KCF Technologies also will introduce the Crowd Stats Counter, which will track and display yardage tallied by “crowd-inflicted penalties,” like delay of game and false start.
Lactation Pods
The stadium will have three new lactation pod locations — inside Gate F (east side), inside the ADA gate (west side), and the Mt. Nittany Club — joining the previous one at the north end.
Sensory Room
A new sensory room behind Section SF will provide a quiet space for fans with sensory issues when they feel overwhelmed and overstimulated. Access is free and open to fans of all ages.
The pregame Beaver Stadium Block Party on Curtin Road, traffic patterns, mobile ticketing, entry procedures and bag policy remain unchanged from last year. For details, visit GoPSUsports.com.
